NCERT to Restore Original 'Dancing Girl' Image After Supreme Court Criticism of Content Alteration

Following public criticism and institutional concern, NCERT has decided to restore the original depiction of the iconic Mohenjo-daro Dancing Girl sculpture in its Class 9 arts textbook. The original bronze figurine (circa 2500-1900 BCE) had its bare torso digitally covered in the latest edition, departing from the presentation in Class 6 textbooks where the figure appears unaltered. This incident reflects broader debates about curriculum design, cultural representation, and institutional autonomy in educational content curation. The Dancing Girl is among India's most significant archaeological artifacts, symbolizing Indus Valley Civilization's artistic sophistication. The attempted alteration raised questions about: (1) Who decides what constitutes 'appropriate' historical representation, (2) Whether covering historical artifacts distorts educational accuracy, (3) The role of cultural sensitivity versus historical fidelity. For UPSC: questions likely focus on archaeological heritage, cultural education, institutional independence of educational bodies, and curriculum design principles. The incident connects to previous debates on saffronization of textbooks, cultural nationalism, and academic freedom. Also relevant for understanding India's approach to preserving and presenting ancient civilizations.